TL;DR: The Apex Legends Season 31 meta runs on Pathfinder, Loba and Revenant. Together they make up 51.7% of Apex Predator ranked picks. The guns to learn are the new Akimbo Wingman and the returning Hemlok Burst AR. Prowler and Nemesis took recoil nerfs but are still strong. Ranked now has Legend bans in Diamond+ and adjusted entry costs for lopsided lobbies.
Apex Legends Season 31, called Cipher, started on November 3, 2026. The best pick in ranked right now is Pathfinder. He is the most-played Legend at the top of the ladder (20.2% of Predator picks) and the best RP earner among tracked Predators (+53.7 RP per game), per ApexRanked. Revenant is a close second on results (+48.7 RP) after his Cipher buffs. Loba is still the #2 pick even after her cooldown nerfs, but she earns about half the RP of Path or Rev.
Data as of November 10, 2026: Split 1, week 1, launch patch plus the November 4 Crypto hotfix and the November 6 map rotation change. This page covers the full Legend tier list with pick rates, every Legend and weapon change with before and after numbers, the comps Predators run, how Strongholds work, and the new Ranked rules.
Apex Season 31 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season name | Cipher (Season 31) |
| Start date | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (patch notes) |
| Start time | EA's notes give only the date. Press reports 10:00 a.m. PT, which is 1:00 p.m. ET, 18:00 UTC and 19:00 CET. Not confirmed by Respawn |
| New Legend | None. The headline change is a Crypto rework |
| New weapon | Akimbo Wingman (floor loot and Heavy Arsenals) |
| New mechanic | Strongholds, a mid-game airdrop bunker |
| Current ranked split | Split 1. The Split 2 date is not announced |
| Ranked maps | Storm Point, E-District (day), Broken Moon |
| Next season | Season 32 brings the Kings Canyon Evolved map update (EA roadmap). Date not announced |
Apex Season 31 tier list
Two kinds of data are in circulation, and they disagree. Launch-day editorial lists, like Skycoach's from November 3, put Lifeline, Octane, Alter, Conduit and Mad Maggie in S tier and push Pathfinder and Loba down to A. Seven days of live ranked data from the top of the ladder say otherwise. ApexRanked tracked 515 Apex Predators across 1,817 ranked matches from November 9 to 10 on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Pathfinder, Loba and Revenant were the only Legends above 10%.
Our tiers below give the most weight to the live data, especially RP per game where a sample exists. The direction of each Cipher buff or nerf comes next. Pick rate shows popularity, not strength. Under 2% means fewer than 40 picks, so treat those rows as low-sample.
| Legend | Our tier | Predator pick rate | Skycoach (Nov 3) | Season 31 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder | S | 20.2% | A | None. +53.7 RP per game, the best tracked result |
| Revenant | S | 14.3% | S | Buffed: shorter cooldowns, 3 new Upgrades. +48.7 RP per game |
| Loba | S | 17.2% | A | Nerfed: longer cooldowns. +24.4 RP per game |
| Octane | A | 8.7% | S | None. +18.5 RP per game |
| Alter | A | 6.8% | S | Cannot breach a Stronghold until it is captured |
| Gibraltar | A | 4.8% | A | None |
| Mad Maggie | A | 4.1% | S | None. Strongholds add cover fights that suit her |
| Lifeline | A | 3.6% | S | Buffed: Tactical 25s to 15s, heals while gliding, Revive Shield returns |
| Bangalore | B | 2.6% | B | None |
| Seer | B | 2.2% | A | None in the official notes |
| Vantage | B | 2.0% | B | None |
| Crypto | B | 1.8% | A | Full rework, then a hotfix on November 4 |
| Wraith | B | 1.2% | A | None |
| Horizon | B | 1.0% | B | None |
| Axle | B | 1.2% | A | Nerfed in the October 1 hotfix (repeated in the Cipher notes) |
| Catalyst | B | 1.2% | A | None |
| Caustic | B | 1.2% | A | Bug fix only (Nox traps at Somers University) |
| Valkyrie | C | 1.5% | B | None |
| Sparrow | C | 1.2% | B | None |
| Rampart | C | 1.0% | B | None |
| Conduit | C | 0.7% | S | None. The biggest gap between editorial lists and live play |
| Fuse | C | 0.4% | A | None |
| Newcastle | C | 0.3% | A | None |
| Wattson | C | 0.3% | B | None |
| Bloodhound | C | 0.2% | A | None |
| Mirage | C | 0.2% | B | Bug fix only (decoys floating during skydive) |
| Ash | C | 0.1% | C | None |
| Ballistic | C | 0% (not seen) | C | Bug fix only (Sling hop-up after Tempest) |
Where we break from the editorial lists:
- Pathfinder is S, not A. He wasn't changed in Cipher, yet he leads the ladder on both pick rate and RP. EA's Designer's Notes already named him as the Legend who pushed Revenant out of the meta.
- Loba stays S despite the nerf. The change only touched cooldowns, so her Black Market still gives the best loot in the game. Her +24.4 RP per game is half of Pathfinder's, though. She is a comfort pick more than a carry.
- Lifeline is A, not S. On paper she got the biggest buff in the patch. In practice she sits at 3.6% at Predator. She is a solid pick for Gold to Platinum lobbies but has not yet broken into the top end.
Every Legend change in Season 31
All numbers below come from the Cipher patch notes unless marked otherwise.
| Legend | Ability | Before | Season 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenant | Tactical cooldown | 20s | 15s, faster charge |
| Revenant | Ultimate cooldown | 180s | 150s. Knocks always add 5s to the active ultimate (the old 35s cap is gone) |
| Revenant | Level 2 Upgrade | Ultimate Cooldown (â30s) | Ever Lasting: +10s to the ultimate per knock |
| Revenant | Level 3 Upgrades | Tactical Cooldown, Agile Assassin | Silence: a pulse on Tactical landing silences enemies for 4s. No Escape: Tactical refreshes when the Passive marks a low-HP enemy |
| Lifeline | Passive | Glide only | D.O.C. heals Lifeline while she glides |
| Lifeline | Tactical cooldown | 25s | 15s |
| Lifeline | Level 2 Upgrades | BattPack, Improved Flight | Enhanced Radio (moved from Level 3), Improved Flight with better handling |
| Lifeline | Level 3 Upgrades | Enhanced Radio, Tactical Cooldown | Ultimate Cooldown (â60s) or Revive Shield |
| Loba | Tactical cooldown | 25s | 30s |
| Loba | Ultimate cooldown | 120s | 150s |
| Axle | Passive slide control | Previous value | â50% lateral control |
| Axle | Nitro Gate | 700 push, aim assist on | 650 push, â25% slide control, extra aim assist disabled while under the Gate |
| Axle | Kickstart (ultimate) | 700 knock-up, 10s chase | 650 knock-up, 8s chase, much weaker knock-up when it locks on right after deploy |
Is Crypto good in Season 31?
He is better than he was, but he is not meta yet. The rework gives the drone a 25-second battery, after which it recalls itself. You can redeploy it with no cooldown. The drone now scans in 360 degrees and no longer pings doors or loot bins. It marks enemies in line of sight for 8 seconds, with a 4-second cooldown between marks, and the marks stay even after the drone is recalled or destroyed. Ally.MoveTo(), the speed boost toward teammates, is now part of his base kit, slightly weaker than the old Upgrade.
The EMP fires with one press now, even if no drone is out. With line of sight it does full shield damage and a heavy slow. Without line of sight it does 50 damage and a light slow, and it no longer damages Crypto. On controller, you trigger the EMP from inside the drone with the weapon swap button (Y on Xbox). In the drone, the fire button now marks enemies. His new Upgrades are Got Eyes On You (marks last 4s longer) and Charged Up (+10s battery).
At launch the recall took 6 seconds. Players complained, and the November 4 update cut it to 0.7 seconds. That update also fixed a crash when using ordnance in the drone. Respawn said bigger changes are coming in a future client update. EA says Crypto has had a very low pick rate for several seasons, and at 1.8% of Predator picks that hasn't changed yet. He is a usable recon pick now, but Respawn is still tuning him.
Best guns in Apex Season 31
No public tracker has weapon usage for Season 31 yet. The tiers below are based on the official changes and EA's data from late Season 30. EA's Designer's Notes say the Prowler and Nemesis "have been climbing steadily in usage-rate and win-rate all season". Both were nerfed, but neither was gutted.
| Weapon | Tier | Season 31 change | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akimbo Wingman | S (watch) | New. Heavy ammo, 45 body damage, 56 headshot, double magazine, fires in bursts | Two 45-damage shots per trigger pull, found on the floor. Rewards players who already hit Wingman shots |
| Hemlok Burst AR | A | Returns. Burst and single fire, 21 body / 29 head. The Elite Breach version is vaulted | The classic mid-range pick. No auto mode and no silencer anymore |
| Prowler Burst PDW | A | More recoil. Selectfire hop-up removed | Still deadly up close, now weaker at AR range by design |
| Nemesis Burst AR | A | More vertical recoil | Was the AR climbing all through Season 30. Still a top mid-range pick |
| Peacekeeper | A | Faster rate of fire. Shotgun Bolts now also raise the rate of fire | A direct buff in a patch that nerfed most of its rivals |
| EVA-8 Auto | A | Double Tap Trigger removed. Disruptor Rounds added (375 points) | Disruptor shreds shields at close range |
| L-STAR EMG | B | Back on the floor. Damage 21 to 19, 22 shots to overheat (was 28), stockpile 88 (was 168), 18s recharge, Redline removed | Weaker than its Care Package version. A filler energy gun |
| Flatline, R-301, C.A.R. | B | No change | Reliable, not dominant |
| R-99, Alternator, RE-45 | B | No change | EA's notes describe the "fall of the R-99" in Season 30 |
| G7 Scout, Longbow, Triple Take | B | Corrupted Rapid Sniper Stock fire-rate bonus 1.2x to 1.1x | A small nerf to fast marksman setups |
Akimbo Wingman explained
The Wingman itself changed this season: it now uses Heavy ammo and Heavy Magazines instead of Sniper, spawns on Heavy Arsenals, and its base damage dropped from 50 to 45. Pick up a second Wingman and you go akimbo automatically. In akimbo mode the headshot multiplier drops to 1.25x (56 per head), the magazine doubles, and fire rate goes up slightly. The trade-offs are more recoil and a longer reload. Each trigger pull fires both guns one after the other in a quick burst. EA calls it its first burst akimbo. Hold the trigger and the next bursts fire on their own.
The Prowler, Hemlok, Nemesis and Akimbo Wingman all queue tap-fire bursts now, so mashing the trigger no longer drops shots. On controller, that only helps if your trigger registers every press. If burst guns feel inconsistent, test your triggers before you blame the gun.
Care Package weapons
| Weapon | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Akimbo Mozambique | In (confirmed) | 18 damage per pellet (was 17), tighter blast, slower reload. The Executioner hop-up heals 15 shields per second. Stockpile 80, or 110 in Wildcard |
| L-STAR EMG | Out (confirmed) | Moved to floor loot |
| 30-30 Repeater, Kraber | Not confirmed | The Cipher notes don't name them. SenseOS lists them as still in the crate |
Best team comps for Season 31
EA said before launch that the most-picked ranked trio made up less than 1% of all comps. Live data shows a short list. These are the trios ApexRanked saw three tracked Predators leave the same lobby on, November 9 to 10. It recorded only 35 trio sightings in that window, so read this as what top players are trying, not as proof that these comps win.
| Trio | Sightings | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Alter, Loba, Revenant | 6 | Alter portals out after Revenant dives. Loba refits the team |
| Loba, Pathfinder, Revenant | 3 | The default high-rank stack: rotate, dive, loot |
| Loba, Pathfinder, Seer | 3 | Recon from Seer instead of a second fragger |
| Loba, Mad Maggie, Pathfinder | 3 | Maggie breaks the cover Strongholds deploy |
| Lifeline, Octane, Pathfinder | 3 | Two movement Legends with fast heals behind them |
| Loba, Revenant, Vantage | 3 | Vantage scouts and picks, Revenant follows up |
For most ranks, start with Pathfinder + Revenant + Loba or Pathfinder + Revenant + Lifeline. The second trades Loba's loot for Lifeline's 15-second D.O.C. and Revive Shield late in the game. In Diamond+, Legend bans make one-tricks risky. Keep a backup in a different role: Octane or Horizon if Pathfinder is banned, Seer or Crypto if you need intel.
How Strongholds work
Strongholds are locked bunkers that drop once per match, during Round 2 closing. Care Package timing changed around them: two crates drop at Round 1 closing and one more at Round 2 closing (patch notes).
- Landing: anything under a Stronghold when it lands is crushed and killed. If there is room, it puts out up to 4 indestructible barriers and 2 Hardlight frames as cover.
- Capture: progress builds only while a single team is in the zone. More teammates in the zone means faster progress. Progress never decays and is shared, so whichever team is inside when it reaches 100% gets the loot.
- Reward: 1 Care Package weapon, 3 Gold guns, 3 Amps and 2 Corrupted Attachments, plus a Level Up for each living member of the capturing team.
- Locked to abilities: Loba can't steal from a Stronghold and Alter can't phase into one until it is captured.
The Level Up matters most for Legends with strong Level 3 Upgrades. One capture can give a Revenant Silence or No Escape, or a Lifeline her Revive Shield, in the middle of the match.
Apex Season 31 ranked changes
| Change | How it works |
|---|---|
| Legend bans (Diamond+) | Each player requests one ban. A Legend's ban chance equals its share of the requests, and the game bans 2 Legends at random using those odds. It does not simply ban the top two. If fewer than 4 Legends are requested, last week's most-played Legends are added |
| Challenger match | Your Squad Tier is 2+ tiers below the Lobby Tier: entry cost â30% |
| Goliath match | Your Squad Tier is 2+ tiers above the Lobby Tier: entry cost +50% |
| Squad Tier | The average of your squad's RP. Premade teammates count at the highest premade member's RP. A teammate who never connects drops your Squad Tier by one tier. Lobby Tier is the median of all Squad Tiers |
| Demotion Protection | If one match could demote you, you get 3 Demotion Shields. Each one absorbs a demotion before it happens (Ranked Roadmap). The new Ranked tab shows your status |
| Ranked access | Account Level 20. Road to Ranked challenges are removed (EA Help) |
| UI | Squad and Lobby Tier, entry cost and match type before the drop. RP per kill in the kill feed. A Ranked tab in the inventory |
| Rewards | No new reward suite in Season 31. EA's reward overhaul is planned for Season 32 |
EA's Help page adds that each player can also flag a Legend they don't want banned. That line isn't in the patch notes, so treat it as not confirmed until you see it in a match.
Ranked ladder dates (Split 1)
| Ladder | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder 1 | November 10, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
| Ladder 2 | November 17, 2026 | November 22, 2026 |
| Ladder 3 | November 24, 2026 | November 29, 2026 |
| Ladder 4 | December 1, 2026 | December 6, 2026 |
| Ladder 5 | December 8, 2026 | December 13, 2026 |
Season 31 map rotation
| Mode | Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pubs | Storm Point, E-District (day), Broken Moon | E-District Night launched with the season and was pulled on November 6 for visibility fixes. Respawn says it returns in late November |
| Ranked | Storm Point, E-District (day), Broken Moon | Same swap as pubs |
| Mixtape (Nov 3 â Jan 5) | TDM: Thunderdome, Fragment, Skull Town. Control: Production Yard, Barometer, Thunderdome. Gun Run: Skull Town, Wattson Pylon, Monument | From the patch notes |
| Wildcard | Nov 3â9: District, Broken Moon. Dec 1 â Jan 5: Olympus, District, Broken Moon | The Nov 10â30 window isn't listed. Wild Cards are now granted at the start of Rounds 1â3, and Replicators are removed |
The patch also brought 99 map quality-of-life fixes, focused on Storm Point, Olympus and World's Edge, and closed more than 35 rat spots across all maps.
What changes in Season 32
None of this is live yet. The Ranked Roadmap says Season 32 replaces Rookie with Iron, adds Emerald between Platinum and Diamond, and adds Grandmaster at the top. The Predator badge then goes to the top 750 of Grandmaster. Ranked splits into an Open League (Iron to Emerald) and a Pro-Am League (Diamond and up), weekly ladders end, and rewards move to promotion-based drops. The map update is Kings Canyon Evolved.
If you play on a pad, start with our best Apex controller settings: the 4-3 Linear setup most pros run, plus every ALC field. Our deadzone starting points by game also include an Apex section. Run a quick stick drift test before you change anything, because no in-game setting fixes a drifting stick.